Judgment of the General Court of 28 January 2026 Land Oberösterreich v EUIPO – Norma (Genussländer)

(Case T-46/25)  (1)

(EU trade mark - Revocation proceedings - EU word mark Genussländer - Genuine use of the mark - Article 18(1)(a) and Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 - Nature of use of the mark - Form differing in elements that do not alter the distinctive character of the mark)

(C/2026/1598)

Language of the case: German.

Parties

Applicant: Land Oberösterreich (Austria) (represented by: J. Hintermayr, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: E. Markakis, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Norma Lebensmittelfilialbetrieb Stiftung & Co. KG (Nuremberg, Germany) (represented by: A. Parr, lawyer)

Re:

By its action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks, primarily, the annulment and, in the alternative, the alteration of the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 25 November 2024 (Case R 524/2024-5).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.	Dismisses the action;

2.	Orders Land Oberösterreich to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Norma Lebensmittelfilialbetrieb Stiftung & Co. KG;

3.	Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office to bear its own costs.

---

(1)   OJ C C/2025/1454, 10.3.2025.